Chairman WAPDA Lt. Gen. (Retd) Muhammad Saeed during his visit to Mangla Hydel Power Station, was briefed that Mangla Refurbishment Project is progressing ahead with a steady pace. As many as four power generating units have already been refurbished; and are in operation with their enhanced generation capacity; another two will also come on line by the end of this year; while overall completion of the Project is scheduled in 2030.
The Chairman visited the control room, generating units being refurbished in turbine hall, and intake structure to review progress on the Project. Member Power WAPDA Muhammad Arfan Miana, GM Mangla Dam Organisation Fakhar-i-Jehan, GM Hydel Development Ihsan Ullah, GM/PD Mangla Refurbishment Project Ijlal Hussain, the Consultants and the Contractors were also present during the visit.
Reviewing the refurbishment activities, the Chairman emphasized upon the Contractors to expedite the works for completion of the Project without delays for achieving energy security of the country by reducing reliance on expensive yet eco-harmful thermal generation.
WAPDA is implementing Mangla Refurbishment Project with an approved PC-I cost of Rs.52.224 billion. USAID has provided US$ 170 million as grant; AFD is providing € 90 million as loan; while balance is being arranged by WAPDA from its own resources and through loans. Mangla Refurbishment Project is unique in the sense that it is being implemented without shutting down the entire power station. Instead, it has been divided into several packages. Refurbishment works are being carried out by closing down one tunnel i.e. two generating units at a time to avoid energy loss. On completion, the Project will enhance Mangla Hydel Power Station’s installed capacity to 1310 MW from 1000 MW. Annual energy generation will also increase from 5 billion units to 6.632 billion units.
It is important to note that WAPDA has devised a two-pronged strategy for optimal utilization of hydropower resources in the country. It has not only initiated new hydropower projects but has also been rehabilitating and upgrading its existing hydel power stations to maximize the ratio of much-needed clean, green and affordable hydel electricity in the National Grid. Mangla Refurbishment Project is one of the components of this strategy. Mangla Hydel Power Station has 10 units with generation capacity of 100 MW each. Of these, the first four units were installed in1967; unit No. 5 and 6 in 1974 and unit No. 7 and 8 in 1981. Mangla Hydel Power Station attained its maximum generation capacity of 1000 MW in 1994 with addition of unit No 9 and 10.